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DLR
Docklands Light Railway



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The Docklands Light Railway (the DLR) is an automated light metro system opened in 1987 to serve the redeveloped Docklands area of London. It reaches north to Stratford, south to Lewisham, west to Tower Gateway and Bank in the City of London financial district, and east to Beckton, London City Airport and Woolwich Arsenal. The system uses minimal staffing on trains and at major interchange stations; the four sub-surface stations are staffed to comply with underground station requirements.

The DLR is operated under a concession awarded by Transport for London to Serco Docklands, part of the Serco Group. The system is owned by Docklands Light Railway Ltd, part of the London Rail division of Transport for London. In 2011 the DLR carried over 86 million passengers. It has been extended several times and further extensions are planned.



The docks immediately east of London began to decline in the early 1960s as cargo became containerised. The opening of the Tilbury container terminal, further east in Essex, rendered them redundant and in 1980 the government gained control. The Jubilee line of the London Underground opened in 1979 from Stanmore to Charing Cross as the first stage of an intended cross-town line to south-east London. Land at Ludgate Circus and Lewisham had been reserved for the second stage, a station partly constructed in the City and buildings at Cannon Street modified, but rising costs and the low level of development in Docklands then envisaged not justifying the railway led to the project's indefinite postponement in the early 1980s.

The London Docklands Development Corporation (LDDC), needing to provide public transport cheaply for the former docks area to stimulate regeneration, considered several proposals and chose a light rail scheme using dock railway infrastructure to link the West India Docks to Tower Hill and to run alongside the Great Eastern line out of London to a northern terminus at Stratford, where a disused bay platform at the west of the station was available for interchange with the Central Line and main line. Stratford was preferred to the Mile End alternative, which would have involved street running trams and was at variance with the concept of a fully automated railway.

The contract for the initial system was awarded to GEC Mowlem in 1984 and the initial system was constructed from 1985 to 1987 at a cost of £77 million. The line was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on 30 July 1987, and passenger services began on 31 August 1987.

Images of the line are broken into discrete branches, eg: Stratford-Poplar, Poplar-Beckton, etc




 


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DLR
Docklands Light Railway



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Stratford (High Level) - Poplar


Stratford (High Level)

The initial system comprised two routes, from Tower Gateway and Stratford to Island Gardens. Most was elevated on disused railway viaducts or new concrete viaducts, with use of disused surface railway formation between Poplar and Stratford. A disused platform was available at Stratford to allow connections to the Central line and main line services to East Anglia and Southend. Stratford also had a Low Level station for the North London Line from North Woolwich to Richmond. The section from Stratford (Low Level) to North Woolwich was closed and converted into a DLR route to Woolwich Arsenal across the Thames with a new extension north to Stratford International with connections to the High Speed line to Europe and Kent.



DLR sets 30 and 85 at Stratford (DLR High Level)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk DLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk





Stratford (DLR High Level) seen from a departing train running onto the single line section running alongside the Great Eastern Main Lines
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk






Pudding Mill Lane

The route from Stratford ran as a single line alongside the Great Eastern Main Line to Pudding Mill Lane where there was a simple island platform and a loop. Pudding Mill Lane was the closest DLR station to the 2012 Olympic Park but it was closed for safety reasons during the Olympics due to its inadequate capacity, visitors having the use Stratford. A new two platform station had been built at Stratford allowing a more frequent service. In 2014 a new Pudding Mill Lane station was built on a new double-track viaduct slightly to the south of the current line. This was to allow room for the Crossrail line to surface there and connect with surface lines from Stratford. The new Pudding Mill Lane is a massive structure by DLR standards, presumably to cater for vast hordes of people once the original Olympic Park (now the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park) is fully reopened. The longer section of double track through Pudding Mill Lane also improves the number of train paths into Stratford.


The original minimalist Pudding Mill Lane station seen from a departing DLR train.
The new station is being built to the right and Crossrail will emerge in the area between the old and new DLR lines.

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




The new Pudding Mill Lane station and viaduct being built.
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 12th April 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




The new loop and viaduct at Pudding Mill Lane station looking towards Stratford
Great Eastern main Lines on left

Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




The hideous tower built for the Stratford Olympic park - Please demolish it
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




The new Pudding Mill Lane station looking towards Poplar
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




The new Pudding Mill Lane station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




Detail of the third rail power bars at a section break
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 30 at Pudding Mill Lane
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 130 leaving and arriving at Pudding Mill Lane from for/from Stratford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 136 arriving at Pudding Mill Lane from from Stratford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 97 leaving Pudding Mill Lane for Stratford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 97 leaving Pudding Mill Lane for Stratford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 119 leaving Pudding Mill Lane for Poplar
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 146 at Pudding Mill Lane heading for Stratford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Line - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR 29 in new Pudding Mill Lane station seen from a train for Poplar
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




The new Pudding Mill Lane station looking towards Stratford seen from a train for Poplar
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Pudding Mill Lane - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk





Bow Church
 The single line splits approaching Bow Church station just beyond the bridge
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 24 at Bow Church heading to Stratford where the single track begins
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




 Bow Church station
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR sets 29+67 at Bow Church
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.ukDLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk




DLR set 119 arriving at  Bow Church station heading to Stratford
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Bow Church - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk





Devons Road

Langdon Park

All Saints

Poplar






Stratford International - Canning Town


Stratford International

Stratford (Low Level)
Stratford DLR (Low Level) seen from the entrance to Straford (High Level)
Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014
 DLR - Straford - Photo: © Ian Boyle, 17th June 2014 - www.simplonpc.co.uk





Stratford High Street

Abbey Road

West Ham

Star Lane

Canning Town






Poplar - Lewisham


West India Quay

Canary Wharf

Heron Quays

South Quay

Crossharbour

Mudchute

Island Gardens

Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich

Greenwich

Deptford Bridge

Everson Road

Lewisham















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